Twenty: Picture Perfect

Rejected

After talking with Sasuke and finding out that Naruto once again did not ask Hinata out, Sai goes to speak with Neji about a plan to get Naruto and Hinata together.

"Don't you think that's a bit drastic?" Neji asks Sai.

Sai shakes his head, "Dickless is in love with Hinata. But he has never asked a girl out before. At least not with these type of feelings. And if he sees that if he doesn't act soon and he can lose her to someone else, he'd definitely relish the opportunity."

Neji nods and goes to find Kiba to discuss the plan while Sai goes to meet up with Naruto and Sasuke at Ichiraku's for lunch.

While eating lunch, Sasuke approaches Naruto, "Dobe. This is really starting to get annoying."

"Teme. I'm going to ask her out. Just have to make sure its okay with Neji." Naruto responds while Sai facepalms and walks out.

Kiba and the others approach him. "Where's the idiot?"

"In there." Sai points sighing deeply. "He's hopeless."

Neji smirks, "Not for long."

Kiba barges in on Naruto. "Naruto! You're driving Hinata insane!"

Naruto hides behind Sasuke, "I just don't know how to ask her out."

Kiba smirks, "Well then I'll ask her out!!"

The whole mood changes as well as Naruto's aura. Sasuke and Sai smirk.

Naruto's voice booms, "WHAT!!!!"

While Neji and Kiba explain their challenge to Naruto, Sai notices Sasuke smiling at a passing Sakura. He nudges Sasuke's arm with a smug grin on his face. Sasuke mouths, "Don't say a word." Sai snickers.

He then notices Naruto running off confidently to find Hinata. Sasuke looks at everyone, "You guys know he's gonna fail right?"

Sai nods and walks off with Sasuke. He and Sasuke discuss all the things that will go wrong with Naruto asking out Hinata. While laughing at one of Sasuke's suggestions, Sai accidently bumps into someone.

"Oh sorry about that." she says.

"No. It was my fault for not paying attention."

His dark eyes then lock with green ones.

Sasuke suddenly sneaks off leaving the two alone.

Sai scratches the back of his head as he and Ino look off avoiding each other's gaze.

"H...hey b-beautiful." he stutters mentally smacking himself.

Ino blushes even though he calls her beautiful all the time. 'What's wrong with me?'

Sai then thinks back to the conversation he had with Sasuke.

/flashback/

"I need some advice."

Sasuke face palms. "Oh man. Not you too."

Sai looks at him with a look that screams this is serious.

Sasuke folds his legs indian style. "Okay. Shoot."

Sai takes a deep breath. "You've known Ino for what...all your life?"

Sasuke thinks, "Well, I wouldn't directly say know. I know her but not so much to the point were I know everything. Why?"

Sai takes another deep breath. "I think I may be falling for her."

Sasuke's eyes widen. "W...what?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure but, when I got hurt from training with Naruto, I found out she was the one nursed me back to health. And I always get nervous around her and when she looks at me with those beautiful green eyes of hers I get chills. The only word I can ever manage to say to her without stuttering is what she is to me. Beautiful. I don't know how to explain it."

Sai looks up a Sasuke who has his face in his sleeve.

"Uchiha?"

Sasuke holds up a finger. "One second man. The feels almost got to me."

Sai deadpans, 'Dickless is affecting all of us one by one.'

Sasuke recovers and simply says, "It's simple really. You just have to tell her how you feel and ask her out. Loving someone from a distance can do more harm than you actually telling them how you feel. Trust me. I learned that from Hinata and Sakura. Ino never really liked me. It was more of a crush like when Naruto liked Sakura. It's like Naruto only liked Sakura because I'm his rival and he didn't want to lose to me. Ino is the same way. She didn't want to lose to Sakura so she started to like me. Get it?"

Sai nods and Sasuke places a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "Hey. I may not know you as well as I should, but you're a Team 7 member, which means you're family. I'm hear if you need me."

They fist bump and walk back towards town to find Naruto and Sakura.

/end of flashback/

Sai takes a deep breath.

"Beautiful. Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Uh...I...was wondering...if you would like to go out with me. Like a d...date?"

Ino is caught off guard and responds instantly regretting herself, "Uh...you know I like Sasuke-kun right?" 'Crap. Why did I say that? Stupid Ino.'

Sai's world crumbles but he doesn't show it. "Oh...I see. It probably wouldn't have worked out anyway though. See you around Ino." He then walks away with his hands in his pockets.

Ino can't see but she can tell that he's hurt.

Sasuke overheard the whole thing and face palms. 'Ino is a worser idiot than Dobe.'